A radio broadcaster and media writer, Dadamo represented Windsor-Sandwich in the Ontario Legislature from 1990 to 1995, where he served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation in Premier Bob Rae's NDP government.

While running a candidate with government experience would be a big catch for David Swann's Liberal Official Opposition (and a vote of no-confidence in Brian Mason's NDP), I can imagine that his opponents in the nomination race and the by-election won't hesitate to highlight any Rae Days connections of Dadamo's past.

26 comments:

(and a vote of no-confidence in Brian Mason's NDPPfft. I looked through some newspaper archives for "George Dadamo" from 1985 to 2007. he was parliamentary secretary for transportation. It appears he only ever made the headlines talking about mandatory bike helmets and a universal bus pass for the GTA. A one-term MPP from over 12 years ago in a different province? Big deal. Swann can have him.

I had the opportunity to meet George Dadamo last week. He is a very impressive man. If he decides to run in Calgary Glenmore he will certainly have my support! Does anyone know where I can make a financial contribution to his campaign?

I to, have met Mr. Dadamo recently, and have been impressed with him. He is very socialable, knowledgable, and seems to have a high sense of urgency. With his experience, I feel as though he will provide a breeze of fresh air to this stale, conservative government that we unfortunately cannot get rid of in Alberta. I also feel that the election of Mr. Dadamo as a Liberal will signify the beginning of the end for the Conservative party.

I don't know enough about Mr. Dadamo to anwser you questions, Big West Sky, but, I can answer some of your concerns.

1. From Ontario-So? I'm not from Alberta, and I'd be willing to bet you will find one or two other people out here not from Alberta. Funny thing, we are now a mobile society where borders are disappearing. If we love the province, who cares where we are originally from?2. A New Democrat and 3. A BOB RAE New Democrat-20 years ago? Really, is your past an indication of your present self? I know personally that I have changed alot in 20 years, and for the better. 4. With no history of the liberals-History has to start somewhere. I've switched political allegiance over the last 5 years, and unfortunately, you cannot erase the past, but, new beginnings are a wonderful thing.

If he's going to take the good (experience) from running 20 years ago, he takes the bad too.

I am told George Dadamo has only lived in Alberta a couple of years, and I still need answers to the NDP question - and that's just for me. Maybe you'll eventually satisfy ME about Dadamo, but for the constituency as a whole, you can't wave away these problems.

Most people will learn about the 30 second version of Dadamo: NDP, Ontario, Bob Rae. That's a hill you're never going to climb in a neighborhood that has elected Dianne Colley-Urquhart locally, Preston Manning and Stephen Harper federally, and Ron Stevens provincially.

If he's trying to get the Liberal nomination, that's not so much a vote of non-confidence in the Mason, as a pretty typical concession to political reality. One Rae himself has made it seems. And the NDP almost always govern from within shouting distance of the centre. In reality, it's not that big a jump ideologically...assuming we knew where the Liberals' centre of gravity was these days.

Another interesting questions is what it would mean for Swann's personal leadership, if this guy were to actually win. Bringing somebody with experience in government into that caucus of amateurs would probably make for an interesting dynamic.

As for why Swann would sign his papers, remember this is a Liberal leader with no real connection to the Liberal brand himself. Better question is why wouldn't he? Especially when his options my be limited. Getting credible candidates to run is a huge challenge for the Libs. Hopefully decades of party membership isn't a prerequisite for candidacy. We're talking politics here, not the mafia, however hard it might be to distinguish that from Alberta PC politics.

"Decades of party membership" isn't a prerequisite, but if you ARE going to be active and carry a party membership, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that you run for THAT party, not abandon your allegiance to run for a party with a better shot.

How strong do you think Dadamo's bond to the Alberta Liberals will be? What if eventually the NDP have a better shot to make government? Why would you trust Dadamo not to - in the words of Winston Churchill - "re-fink" and join his original party?

What can I say? When it comes to running for the Alberta Liberals, I feel having decades of membership in the NDP is much worse than having no membership in any party.

Just FYI, plenty of Bill 44 questions from Alberta Liberal MLAs have been posted on the caucus website, as well as a couple of videos, including this one: http://alc.whitematter.ca/index.php/alc/content/david_swann_stands_up_for_science_in_albertas_classrooms/

EarlIs there any chance he could also stand up for human rights in the classroom? This is about alot more than science. This is about a government that produces a nasty bill. Sure, OK, we'll write sexual orientation into the code, but only a bit. This law now essentially says that you can discriminate against gay people on religious grounds. I thought the supreme court had ruled otherwise. We were better off without this bill.

Can you see it now...Mrs. Smith comes to work as a teacher but can't talk about her wife without sending home permission slips. When you were in elementary, didn't your teachers sometimes mention their own families?

Laurie knows better than this and she should be raising a bigger stink.

I am from Windsor, Ontario, and I know Mr. Dadamo. Mr. Dadamo was a Member of Bob Rae's socialist regime that almost bankrupted Ontario. It was the government which had the most closed votes in Ontario history. And, even this government did not trust George with a portfolio, he was an assistant, hmmm. Since Bob Rae has turned Liberal, it is not surprising that George has too!. In 1997, George Dadamo ran in Windsor which has a pop. 200, 000, for Alderman, and couldn't win, what is Calgary going to do with this Leftist?Rob Cheshire, Windsor

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Who is Dave Cournoyer? I am a writer, blogger, communicator, occasional media pundit, political watcher, & proud life-long Albertan. I studied Political Science at the University of Alberta and have served as Vice-President (External) of the U of A Students' Union, Chair of the Council of Alberta University Students, and communications coordinator for Alberta's official opposition party.